Rule of thumb: don’t give a false name

A man and woman from Gilroy were arrested with the aid of a new
cellular identification device, when police found large amounts of
drugs in their vehicle, authorities said.
A man and woman from Gilroy were arrested with the aid of a new cellular identification device, when police found large amounts of drugs in their vehicle, authorities said.

Police made a traffic stop on a 1991 Toyota pickup driven by Jeffrey Ange, 44, of Gilroy, about 10:20 p.m. Saturday near San Pedro Avenue and Hill Road, according to Morgan Hill Sgt. Jerry Neumayer. The vehicle’s registration was expired.

During the stop, officers arrested Ange on suspicion of being under the influence of a controlled substance, Neumayer said. Detectives then talked to Ange’s passenger, who was not carrying any form of identification and said her name was “Madeline Alfaro” – a name they suspected was false.

Officers used the city’s new mobile identification device to attempt to identify the woman, Neumayer said. The device was able to capture the suspect’s thumbprint, which was sent via cellular service to Santa Clara County’s database to determine if she had ever been arrested.

The woman’s print came back as a match to Romana Roman, 41, of Gilroy, Neumayer said. Police then asked her if that was her real name, and she continued to insist her name was “Madeline Alfaro.” The mobile device also pulled up a previous booking photo of the woman, which officers displayed to the suspect, who then admitted she was lying. Police discovered she was on active probation out of Santa Clara County, and had a no-bail warrant for her arrest on suspicion of drug-related offenses.

Detectives also searched the vehicle and found nearly 16 grams of suspected crystal methamphetamine, more than 100 grams of marijuana, and about 25 grams of a red powdery substance believed to be red phosphorous – a precursor in the manufacture of methamphetamine, Neumayer said.

Ange was arrested on suspicion of sales and manufacture of a controlled substance, unlawful possession with intent to manufacture, possession of marijuana for sale, possession of paraphernalia and being under the influence of a controlled substance, police said.

Roman was arrested on suspicion of being under the influence of a controlled substance, and giving a false name to a police officer.